Village Mosaic

Its focus is always, as Director Sister Conrad Lauber says, "about relationship building, bringing participants together to form community"

Sr. Conrad with some Village Mosaic participants

Since 2009, Fontbonne Ministries' Village Mosaic has offered a welcoming space in south Etobicoke for seniors to come together to engage in a wide variety of programs. Its focus is always, as Director Sister Conrad Lauber says, "about relationship building, bringing participants together to form community."

With a team that includes Sister Elaine Guidinger for foot care, Barbara Dickie, a part time staff member, and a multitude of volunteers, Village Mosaic gives isolated seniors the opportunity to engage in meaningful experiences, get to know others, and activate their minds, bodies and spirits in a variety of ways.

Special times of year are honoured. The space is decorated, pictures of participants in past events fill the bulletin boards, and each occasion calls for its own celebration. Robbie Burns' Day saw two Irish lasses, Ursula and Peggy, doing a Scottish jig. Volunteers from amongst the guests get up to sing solo or in groups or dance, read poetry, tell jokes and generally "ham it up" for the amusement of all. All of this signals the birth of spontaneity and also signifies a maturing community as the ‘Villagers' take ownership and responsibility for their own actions, initiating and delivering programs.

The richness of programming comes from this ownership. To name just a few of its options to seniors, Village Mosaic has offered Taizé prayer, line dancing, crafts, the foot care so important to seniors, ESL classes (English as a Second Language), lessons on computers and Sister Margie's really challenging workout.

Now into year three, Village Mosaic, with the goodness of God, its staff and wonderful volunteers, hopes to continue to offer meaningful programs and experiences to the seniors on the Lakeshore as a buffer to the realities of aging and loneliness.

For further information about Village Mosaic contact:

Sister Conrad Lauber, Director, Village Mosaic
2794 Lake Shore Blvd. West
Toronto ON M8V 1H5
Tel: 416-231-0655
Fax: 416-231-2830
clauber@csj-to.ca